TSA: Just A Matter of Time Before It Becomes Branch of US Military -- Absolutely Nothing To Do With The Bakken

Update

December 26, 2011: I see there is another link at Drudge regarding this story (although it could be the same one. But there's a bigger picture of the cabinet member in charge of TSA which really captures your attention. All I can think of is that the ACLU must be going nuts. Increased frisking at proms, and TSA authority to detain Americans at Gitmo without charging them with a crime. This is truly incredible. I could care less, or couldn't care less: I have no dog in this fight. I don't go to proms any more. But for those who think about these things, this is quite incredible, especially to be occurring under the most liberal president we have ever had. Illegal immigrants from Mexico are exempt, of course, from any federal statute, which is also fine with me, since I don't have a dog in that fight either.

Original Post 

Link here.

During peacetime, the Coast Guard is the Coast Guard. During declared war, it becomes part of the US Navy, or at least that's the way it was back in double-u double-u 2.

Reading the story at the link above, my first thought: this sounds like the Coast Guard paradigm. It's not much of a stretch to see these TSA folks becoming a domestic military force, operating within the borders taking orders from the commander in chief.

From the story linked above:

Congress is set to give the green light on funding for a massive expansion of TSA checkpoints, with the federal agency already responsible for over 9,000 such checkpoints in the last year amidst increased fears America is turning into a police state following the passage of the ‘indefinite detention’ bill.

The increase in funding has nothing to do with the TSA’s role in airports – this is about creating 12 more VIPR teams to add the federal agency’s 25 units that are already scattered across the country and responsible for manning checkpoints on highways, in bus and train terminals, at sports events and even high school prom nights.

Tie this expanded TSA story along with the just-passed law to detain American "terrorists" at Gitmo, and it's starting to look a lot like ....

The ACLU -- or is it UCLA -- I keep getting those acronyms mixed up -- must be thinking -- "how did it come to this?"

Prom night? TSA? Frisking?

Update on Williston Basin Activity in Northeastern Montana

Link here.

Native American Energy Group provided Wednesday an operational update on its recently announced five-well workover program of the company's lease holdings located in the Williston Basin in northeastern Montana:

Wright 5-35: In early December, NAGP completed the initial workover of the Wright 5-35 well, located on the company's 160-acre lease in McCone County, Montana....

NAGP is currently engaged in the workover, lateral jetting and winterization of the Beery 2-24 ... Beery 22-24 also saw work.... The Beery property produced approximately 350,000 barrels of the two million barrels of cumulative oil produced in the entire field.

Sandvick 1-11:  After jetting the laterals in the Ratcliffe formation, almost immediately, approximately 60 barrels of oil flowed back into the pits on location which indicated that NAGP definitely stimulated the pay zone.

The workover of the Cox 7-1 well was completed in late September and the well was brought online ...

Commenting on the Company's field operations, Doyle (Tony) Johnson, Chief Geologist & Petroleum Engineer at NAGP, stated, "Although we're re-entering mature wells ranging from 30 to 50 years old, the application of new technologies to these wells is reaching out further into these pay zones to access more of the oil in the reservoirs than the original completions in the past. Having been a part of many EOR projects during my 38 year career, I am very impressed with the results we are achieving with the various technologies we are applying on these wells, ...

I was completely unaware of this company. The EOR angle and the age of these wells are interesting data points for those wondering how long the Bakken wells might produce.

Unintended Consequences for Natural Gas as Drillers Turn to Oil

Link here.

The US is awash in natural gas, and the price for natural gas is incredibly low. Oil and gas producers are increasingly turning to more profitable oil. The only problem: they keep finding more natural gas.

A bit from the linked article above:

With U.S. natural gas prices maintaining a significant discount to crude oil, producers have every incentive to redirect both capital and drilling to oil and liquids-rich gas plays. And while that shift is paying off for corporate bottom lines, the domestic production mix has failed to turn as quickly as anticipated, putting further pressure on an oversupplied U.S. gas market.

Figures from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that gas production from the U.S. lower 48 reached a record 66.2 billion cubic feet per day in September, up 10.5 percent from the same month in 2010. That growth more than offset year-over-year declines in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

The uptick in domestic gas production comes even as the number of rigs directly searching for gas in the country has slipped 6 percent since the start of the year, to 856, and the number of horizontal gas rigs has flatlined since late 2010, Baker Hughes data show. As such, growing lower 48 production has instead been the consequence of associated gas volumes produced by rigs targeting oil as well as improved recovery rates at the "liquids-rich" gas plays whose natural gas liquids (NGLs) offer producers robust economics even as gas prices languish.

Wow, it would be great to have an administration that was pro-growth. The domestic energy picture is incredible. We are in the process of extricating ourselves from two wars. We've extended the payroll tax break putting $40/month (as much as $80/month for many) back in the pockets of the average American (for two months). It could be morning in America if we just had a Reaganesque outlook.

What California Could Learn From North Dakota

Link here.

The entire article is worth reading in full. Unfortunately, it won't be read in California. Or maybe fortunately. I'm looking forward to North Dakota moving to the #2 spot in the nation's oil production. We're already #1 in honey production.

Here's a bit from the linked article:

California's economic slide is one of choice and consequence, not of necessity. The state still possesses the resources for prosperity, even today, but policies advanced by ideologues and political zealots in the state capital have tarnished the Golden State.

North Dakota, by contrast, illustrates, as it rapidly becomes the economic envy of the nation, how a different approach to public policy bolsters economic activity and job creation.

North Dakota reaps the vast economic benefits of traditional energy procurement and production as well as agricultural spoils, while the Golden State reels from ideological obstinacy where its legislators kowtow to special interests and frolic in dream world where green jobs save the day. North Dakota's approach to energy policy has created a boon allowing the state to achieve notable economic accomplishments, especially as the rest of the nation, and world, lags.

ExxonMobil Drops to 2nd Place -- World Production -- Russian Company Takes 1st Place

Link here.

Russia’s state-run Rosneft oil company has become the world’s largest producer after surpassing American ExxonMobil. The difference in their volumes of production is about one mln tons, a small amount compared to their total production. Not only is the Russian company planning to preserve its position, it also intends to improve its key indicators.

Rosneft boasts oil production facilities in northern Russia, Siberia and the Far East, as well as seven oil refineries. Since 2004, it has been working at the world’s largest oil deposits. In the past nine months, it has produced almost 90 mln tons of oil, leaving the American company behind. At the same time, Rosneft has a huge potential, says Natalya Shulyar, an expert in the fuel and energy sector.

I've said many, many times the state-oil companies would eventually overtake the American exploration and production companies. I assume this will call for a toast in Hawaii this next week.

The Permitorium Continues -- Perhaps The Best Story of The Day -- Not The Bakken

Link here.

This is truly incredible, truly incredible.

Though delays in federal permitting for new Gulf of Mexico drilling are shrinking, industry executives fear new opportunities abroad will draw staffing and equipment away from Gulf projects.

Operators are finding it more difficult to lure back offshore rigs chased away by the drilling moratorium that followed last year's BP oil spill. The increasing complexity of drilling in deeper waters is also making it more difficult to hire, train and retain qualified staff, companies report.

Speaking Dec. 1 on the future of offshore operations at an industry gathering hosted by Jefferies & Co. in Houston, oil and gas executives said they expect an active 2012 in the Gulf, especially in the deep waters of the outer continental shelf. Several new finds and an uptick in interest by big global players like Statoil and Petrobras are seen as particularly benefiting Houston-area offshore service providers.

But at the same time, some of the Gulf's most active drillers admit that they are being slowed down not only by a permitting backlog, but by the growing difficulty of deepwater operations and a boom in activity in Africa, Australia and Brazil.

I said that a long, long time ago -- the rigs and the personnel wouldn't be coming back. First the outright moratorium and then the permitorium in the Gulf. I tracked the number of rigs leaving the Gulf for quite some time, then lost interest. I said at the time, once the rigs left, they wouldn't come back. Prescient.

I've had folks write to tell me the permitorium is lifted and things are back to normal. Hmmm. 

Too much work to be done in Africa, Australia, and Brazil. Even our president went to Brazil to encourage their oil industry; I don't think any president has gone to our offshore drilling prospects to cheer for our oil industry. Remarkable.

Now this is the really, really incredible story. Earlier today I happened across a story in the Houston business journal on-line suggesting that the president was becoming more supportive of the domestic oil and gas industry. Not only was it completely vacuous, but there was not one data point in the article to suggest anything along that line.

A Bit More Information on the Lodgepole Wells North of Williston -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Update

March 3, 2012: another Lodgepole well north of Williston?

• 21019, 1,339, Oasis, Melville 5601 12-18H, Tyrone field; someone suggested that an Oasis well in this section (though not sure) was a Lodgepole well. According to the file report said it was a middle Bakken horizontal well. t12/11; cum 52K 6/12;
  

February 27, 2012: was entering the Lodgepole a mistake or on purpose? Or were they even above the Lodgepole?

Original Post

Back on February 25, 2011, I wrote this regarding the March, 2011, dockets:

Slawson is going to try something we don't see often: going into a producing horizontal well, but opening the vertical portion to another formation

* Case 14386: Slawson wants to go back into Ambush 1-31-30H and open a portion of the vertical section of the well to the Lodgepole Formation in Williams County

So, any update?

There are currently three other wells north of Williston that are targeting the Lodgepole Formation, not including this one.

This is the status of Ambush 1-31-30H (as of data available December 23, 2011):

• 19707, 288/IA, Slawson, Ambush 1-31-30H, Bakken, Wildcat, s1/11; cumulative oil 55 bbls (produced in 12/11)

It turns out the Ambush well is a long lateral, sited in section 31-T156N-R101W (long lateral sections 31 - 30), in the Tyrone oil field.

This is the same oil field that Oasis has recently completed a Lodgepole well; results not yet reported, but the one Lodgepole well north of Williston that I was particularly interested in.

So, did Slawson end up opening the vertical into the Lodgepole formation? No, Slawson cased it to isolate the Bakken from the Lodgepole. According to the sundry notice dated February 17, 2011:

... These packers should isolate the targeted Middle Bakken from the Lodgepole at least thru fracing the target zone. After fracing it would still be possible to perf and squeeze above the Upper Bakken Shale and even inside the 7" casing below liner hanger with Pack off to further isolate the Lodgepole if required by NDIC. The Lodgepole is very tight in this area is reportedly not productive. (sic) Slawson will also be applying for a vertical Bakken Pool extension for this well in the upcoming hearings.

So, the Lodgepole is very tight and reportedly not productive in this field. It will be interesting to see how the Oasis Lodgepole in this field, the Tyrone oil field, turns out.

I am getting beyond my understanding of what they are doing, so I will leave it here and follow-up later. If I've misinterpreted something, I apologize. Others may have more insight.

Stumblin' In, Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman

Eight (8) New Permits -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Daily activity report, December 23, 2011 --

Operators: Dakota-3 (3), CLR (2), BEXP, OXY USA, G3 Operating

Fields: Van Hook, Williston, Murphy Creek, and Oliver

G3 has a wildcat in Williams County; CLR has a wildcat in Williams County.

Whiting reported a great well today:

• 19860, 1,200, Whiting, Vangen 11-3TFH, Mountrail

Otherwise a quiet day.

Industry Looking at Natural Gas Powered Rigs

Link here. 

The North American drilling industry is looking more seriously at weaning itself from diesel-electric rotary rigs—the staple of oilfields around the world for the past 60 years or more—in favour of punching holes (for oil, of course, hardly anyone is actually looking for dry gas these days) using cheaper, cleaner and quieter natural gas.

Ensign Energy Services Inc. has been building gas-powered rigs for clients in the United States for about five years now, and the units are quite popular in some of the more densely -populated shale plays—the Marcellus in the northeast, the Barnett in Texas—and in parts of Colorado and Wyoming where prevailing air pollution laws restrict the use of diesel generators.

Ensign is now running a total of 15 dedicated gas-powered rigs in the United States, but hasn’t yet targeted the Canadian market, although it does have one dual fuel (diesel and natural gas) in its Canadian fleet. Nor does it anticipate building any for the Canadian market, although it is in the process of adding two more dedicated gas-powered rigs to its American fleet, according to Will Matthews, vice- president, marketing in Ensign’s Denver office.

Might be nice for rigs drilling inside city limits. 

For Investors Only -- Seeking Alpha: Again, KOG Shows Up

Link here.

Not only does KOG show up on this list of fourteen stocks, I believe it is only one of four energy stocks on the list, and the others (Entergy, Avista, and Delta Natural Gas) are not in the same sector as KOG. KOG is the only independent oil exploration and production company on the list.

I found this SeekingAlpha.com article unexciting, but it looks at companies against a climate of increasing liquidity:

Company liquidity is an important consideration because sources of liquidity such as cash and securities not only allow a company to continue operations in the short term, but it also finances investments for longer-term growth.

We ran a screen on stocks trading within 5% of their 52-week high for those seeing increases in liquidity, measured by the current ratio (current assets/current liabilities), over the past four years.

Anyway, linked for what it's worth -- but again, KOG shows up on another "short" list. 

Renville Field -- Home of the Chicken Feet -- The Madison, North Dakota, USA

Every once in awhile I will see a new permit for a well inside Renville oil field. This has to be one of the most irregularly shaped fields for such a small field in the Williston Basin. It is about five sections in size, but most of the activity occurs in two sections: the northernmost section, and the southernmost section.

The field is located in the far north of North Dakota, on the far west side of Bottineau County, about eight miles east of Mohall, North Dakota, and about eight miles east of Renville County.

If you look at the GIS map server, you will see a strange cluster of chicken-footprints in a couple of sections of this field: a vertical well with three or four laterals.

Here are some representative wells,  in the south of this very small field, all still producing, all with multiple laterals,

• 18452, 0, Petro Harvester, Glessing 7-16, Madison, Renville, stwice; t1/10; cum 4K 10/11
• 18558, 6, Petro Harvester, Cramer 4, Madison, Renville, s1/10; t2/10; cum 900 bbls 10/11
• 17839, 85, Petro Harvester, Cramer 3, Madison, Renville, s8/09; t9/09; cum 19K 10/11
• 17665, 283, Petro Harvester, Cramer 2, Madison, Renville, s10/08; t11/08; cum 50K 10/11
• 15591, 4, Petro Harvester, Glessing 3, Madison, Renville, s5/04; t10/04; cum 122K 10/11
• 15360, 154, Petro Harvester, Glessing 2, Madison, Renville, s11/02; t11/02; cum 47K 10/11
• 19236, 680, Petro Harvester, Asheim 2, Madison, Renville, s7/10; t8/10; cum 80K 10/11
• 19314, 555, Petro Harvester, Rice 10, Madison, Renville, s7/10; t8/10; cum 52K 10/11

Here are some representative wells,  in the north of this very small field, all still producing, all with multiple laterals, except one,

• 17736 (simple vertical well), 95, Petro Harvester, Heller 6-31, Madison, Renville, sthrice; t2/10; cum 16K 10/11
• 19139, 99, Petro Harvester, Erickson et al 1A, Madison, Renville, 6/10; t7/10; cum 5K 10/11
• 19027, 111, Petro Harvester, Erickson et al 1B, Madison, Renville, 5/10; t7/10; 13K 10/11
• 19143, 214, Petro Harvester, Erickson et al 2B, Madison, Renville, 8/10; t9/10; 25K 10/11
• 19028, 98, Petro Harvester, Erickson et al 3B, Madison, Renville, 6/10; t8/10; cum 17K 10/11

Random Look At Some Madison Wells in the Little Knife Field -- The Madison, North Dakota, USA

Click here for the Little Knife overview.

Eric Fox over at Investopedia has opined that many folks are unaware of all the other payzones in the Williston Basin. I've mentioned before that before this is all over, we will see a resurgence in the Madison, as just one example.

How good is the Madison? Here are a few Madison wells still active in Little Knife, all still producing, and all having produced a million bbls or more so far (or nearly a million in one case):

• 6399, 1,360, Petro-Hunt, Lillian Glovatsky 1-19-1A, Madison, Little Knife, s3/78; t5/78; cum 1.1 bbls 10/11
• 6165, 772, Petro-Hunt, Klatt 2-19-3D, Madison, Little Knife, s6/77; t7/77; cum 1.4 million bbls 10/11
• 6082, 470, Petro-Hunt, Martin Weber 1-18-1C, Madison, Little Knife, s1/77/ t5/77; cum 907K bbls 10/11
• 6118, 597, Petro-Hunt, Martin  Weber 2-18-4D, Madison, Little Knife, s3/77; t5/77; cum 1.1 million bbls 10/11
• 6421, 731, Petro-Hunt, Rose Glovatsky 1-20-1A, Madison, Little Knife, s9/78; t10/78; cum 1.32 million bbls 10/11

Many other Madison wells have been abandoned, after producing 500,000 bbls. At $100/bbl for the price of oil, it's  hard to believe that they won't be going back into the Madison.

Horizontals Targeting the Red River Formation -- The Red River, North Dakota, USA

Hoot Owl --> think Red River --> Whiting.

Hoot Owl oil field is in the southwest part of the state, not the far southwest, but about a third of the way between South Dakota and the Canadian border just two miles east of the Montana border; it is about five miles northeast of Camel Hump oil field.

This is a key prospective Whiting field for the Red River formation.

[Some of this is a "cut and paste" from an earlier posting but some folks may have missed it.]

Someone noted that Whiting was requesting to drill a horizontal targeting the Red River formation and wondering if this had been done before. The full story is presented at the sidebar at the right: scroll to "Formations" and then click on "Red River."

Hundreds (?) of horizontal wells (as many as 5 wells per section) have been drilled into the Red River, particularly in southwestern North Dakota.  Eric Fox, earlier this year, wrote:

Although the Red River formation is relatively unknown to investors, the play was discovered in 1967 and first developed with vertical wells. In 1994, horizontal drilling was used to develop the Red River B play. While not many operators are active in the Red River formation, the play still accounted for approximately 10.5% of total oil production in North Dakota in 2010.

Specifically, case 16605:

Application of Whiting Oil & Gas Corp., to establish a 960-acre drilling or spacing unit consisting of all of Section 10 and the N/2 of Section 15, T.141N., R.105W., Golden Valley County, ND, for the purpose of drilling a horizontal well in the Red River Formation, and such other relief as is appropriate. --> Oil and gas permit #22956.

This area is pretty void of activity. The few wells/permitted locations are these (originally only about five wells were noted at time of original post; since then new permits have been posted):

• 19917, 273, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Maus 23-22, wildcat/Camel Hump, "directional" but on the GIS map seen as a vertical, t7/11; cum 141K 10/16; cum 196K 1/22;
  
• 19921, PA/IA/55, Foundatioin Energy/Whiting, Brookhart 11-14, Red River well, wildcat/Hoot Owl, t2/12; cum 11K 10/16; went inactive in 10/16;
  
• 20043, 200, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Peplinski 34-9, Red River well; wildcat/Hoot Owl, t11/11; cum 37K 10/16; cum 464K 1/22;
  
• 20969, A/IA, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Nistler 21-25H, wildcat/Delhi oil field (southeast of Hoot Owl); Three Forks, dry; now a salt water disposal well, that's why it's considered still active, 1/22;
  
• 22569, IA/272, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Stecker 23-3, Hoot Owl, a Red River well; t7/12; cum 53K 10/16; cum 76K 1/21;
  
• 22775, PA/295, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Ross 13-2, Hoot Owl, t8/12; cum 50K 10/16; a Red River well;
• 22956, PA, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Schaal 22-15H, Hoot Owl;
• 23847, 296, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Stecker 32-9, Hoot Owl;a Red River well, t2/13; cum 37K 10/16;
• 23936, PA, Foundation Energy/Whiting, Faiman 32-14; Hoot Owl;

Idle Ramblings -- Friday, December 23, 2011 -- Christmas Eve Eve

Some items may not be related to the Bakken. Proceed at your own risk.

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I see the price of oil continues to melt up toward $100.

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I haven't seen much analysis of this news story:

Refiners in Europe will shut more crude distillation capacity in the first quarter than in the last five years as units are halted for maintenance and profit margins drop, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News.

At least 295,000 barrels of crude a day will be idled, the Bloomberg data show. That compares with the five-year average of 280,000 barrels, according to Sheenal Khimasia, an analyst at Facts Global Energy Inc. in London. Another 300,000 barrels daily may be curtailed because of falling demand and low profits, she said.

Half of the processing units at Total SA (FP)’s La Mede refinery in the south of France will close from Jan. 11 to March 21.

Exxon Mobil plans to shut some plants at its Gravenchon facility in March for about four weeks.

Eni SpA's Venice plant in Italy would be halted on Nov. 1 for six months.

I would assume refineries in the US will be called upon to make up the difference. 

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Everybody in Boston is still talking about the warmest winter they've seen in some time. No one is complaining about global warming. The two, of course, are unrelated. One is weather. One is climate. 

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The summary for the NDIC January, 2012, dockets have been posted.


Several things jump out when you scan through the summary: the activity is moving to McKenzie County. And the norm is 7 wells per 1280-acre spacing.  Lots could be written; maybe more later.
 

********************

Speaking of the NDIC dockets, someone noted that Whiting was requesting to drill a horizontal targeting the Red River formation and wondering if this had been done before. The full story is presented at the sidebar at the right: scroll to "Formations" and then click on "Red River."

Hundreds (?) of horizontal wells (as many as 5 wells per section) have been drilled into the Red River, particularly in southwestern North Dakota.  Eric Fox, earlier this year, wrote:

Although the Red River formation is relatively unknown to investors, the play was discovered in 1967 and first developed with vertical wells. In 1994, horizontal drilling was used to develop the Red River B play. While not many operators are active in the Red River formation, the play still accounted for approximately 10.5% of total oil production in North Dakota in 2010.

Specifically, case 16605:

Application of Whiting Oil & Gas Corp., to establish a 960-acre drilling or spacing unit consisting of all of Section 10 and the N/2 of Section 15, T.141N., R.105W., Golden Valley County, ND, for the purpose of drilling a horizontal well in the Red River Formation, and such other relief as is appropriate.

 This area is pretty void of activity. The few wells/permitted locations are these:

• 19917, 273, Whiting, Maus 23-22, wildcat, "directional" but on the GIS map seen as a vertical,
• 19921, conf, Whiting, Brookhart 11-14, wildcat,
• 20043, conf, Whiting, Peplinski 34-9, wildcat,
• 20969, conf, Whiting, Nistler 21-25H, wildcat, 

 ******************** 

Other than that, a quiet day.

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I always get a kick out of listening to sports announcers doing all they can to keep the audience on "their" football game when the score is 42 - 3 and there's less than 6 minutes to play. Those calling the play-by-play keep coming up with scenarios in which the losing team could stage a comeback: a kick-off return, followed by a recovered on-side kick, followed by a punt return touchdown, and so on.

That random thought crossed my mind while reading the CNNMoney story on the Keystone XL. Part of the tax extension deal was to require the president make a decision on the Keystone XL within 60 days. Political and business talk radio and talk television will milk this political theater for all its worth.


CNNMoney has it exactly right. Obama has three choices: a) approve it; b) deny it; c) kick the can down the road until after the 2012 election. Wow, I wonder what the president will do?

Both sides and all the talk shows will milk it for all they can. It will result in political contributions and ad dollars. As with the payroll extension which amounted to 2% for 2 months (a pizza night out), analysts were able to keep folks on edge waiting to see how this would play out. Anyone who thought that the year would end with taxes going up .... well ... what can I say ... sounds like a Netflix commercial ...

So, just as we know the outcome of an NFL game at 42 - 3 with less than 6 minutes to play, and chuckle listening to the play-by-play announcers trying to make the game seem exciting, we will see the political equivalent in February, 2012.

The president's speech is easy: "60 days is not enough time to evaluate such an important decision ... we love Canada, our closest ally ... and we need/want their oil .... but 60 days not enough time ... so, I will direct the State Department to let Canada know we need/want their oil ... but we need to have TransCanada resubmit their request so we evaluate a route that doesn't affect the MacGuffin the aquifer."

 ********************

Speaking of the 2% for 2 months (a pizza night out), ... square the $40 tax deduction, and the 99-week unemployment benefits and the $180 Nike Air Jordan Retro XI sneakers craze.  I can but I won't. 

Permits for Two More Hotels/Motels in Williston -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Link here.

...  a new hotel (MainStay Suites), a 270-unit apartment complex and an extended stay project by Strata Estate Suites. 

Relatively New Operator in the Williston Basin -- Chimney Sweep -- The Lodgepole, North Dakota, USA

In the January, 2012, NDIC hearing dockets, an operator that was "new" to me:

• Case 16775, Chimney Sweep, a 160-acre unit, vertical, Lodgepole, Stark

Chimney Sweep has only one other well/file number in North Dakota:

• 16945, TA, Chimney Sweep, Ridl 16-1, wildcat, 16-139-97. This well was southwest of Dickinson, so it was another Lodgepole well, also.

As of March 1, 2011, Chimney Sweep Oil and Gas (US) L.L.L.P. operates as a subsidiary of Enterprise Energy Resources Ltd.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -  Enterprise Energy Resources Ltd. is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, EERL Energy Limited Partnership has completed its previously announced acquisition of a 50% interest in Chimney Sweep Oil and Gas (US) L.L.L.P.

Concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, the Company completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of 16,666,666 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit for gross proceeds of $5,000,000. -- Tuesday, March 1, 2011. 

And then earlier this month, December 5, 2011:

Enterprise Energy Resources Ltd.  (EER.V) is pleased to announce that it has spudded its first well, Archer #1, in Sheridan County, Montana. Enterprise holds a 100% working interest in approximately 30,000 net acres (47 net sections), subject to a 10% back-in right.

The Archer #1 well is located on the northern edge of Enterprise's land package and lies about 40km (25 miles) south west of several successful Bakken wells drilled recently in Montana by one of the area's major operators. The well will evaluate the oil potential of the underlying formations, including the thick Bakken and Three Forks formations within the Williston Basin in North Eastern Montana.

The Archer #1 well, with a TVD of 2,470 m (8,100 ft), is anticipated to take about 14 days to drill, evaluate and case at an estimated cost of approximately US$1.1MM.